Fr. Donald Scales - Diocese of Charlotte

Father Donald Scales

Diocese of Charlotte (Benedictine Order)

Ordained: 1955

Removed: 2006

Died: 2008

Assigned as Follows:

St. Michael Catholic Church (Gastonia, NC)

Summary of Sexual Abuse Allegations against Father Donald Scales:

Father Donald Scales was ordained a priest in 1955, and served in the Diocese of Charlotte. According to media reports, in 2006, a man wrote a letter to the administrator of St. Michael Catholic Church in Gastonia alleging that he had been sexually abused as a minor by the priest from 1977 to 1978. Father Scales denied the allegations. No criminal charges were filed, but the Diocese of Charlotte’s Lay Review Board found the allegation credible. The Benedictine Order removed Father Scales from ministry in 2006. He died in 2008.

In October 2019, Father Scales’ name was included on the Diocese of Raleigh’s updated list of clergy credibly accused of child sexual abuse. The Diocese’s list states that the abuse relating to his removal occurred outside of the Diocese of Raleigh, back in 1966. This means that the abuse was brought to diocesan officials’ attention by a second victim and is unrelated to the 2006 allegations.

Horowitz Law is a law firm representing victims and survivors of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and other clergy in the Diocese of Raleigh in North Carolina. If you need a lawyer because you were sexually abused by a priest in North Carolina, contact our office today. Although many years have passed, those abused by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Raleigh now have legal options, but filing deadlines will apply so do not delay in reaching out to us. Our lawyers have decades of experience representing survivors of clergy sexual abuse in North Carolina and nationwide. We can help.